Blue Ridge Blog
Running can be a very beneficial part of a workout routine. However, like most exercises, if not done correctly or with proper preparation, a good run can do more harm that good.
Many people associate running with putting stress on lower extremities, like knees and feet. While that’s true, running also puts a lot of stress on your back. Here are some tips from Spine-Health to help make sure a painful lower back doesn’t sidetrack your running.
- Warm up properly before you run. This post offers a few tips on stretching and preparing for a run.
- Stretch your hamstrings regularly—twice a day is good—to minimize stress across the low back
- Muscle toning and strength training will help your back—and your entire core—stay strong.
- Wear comfortable, supportive shoes. This article from the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine offers guidance on proper running shoe selection.
- If possible, run on softer surfaces, like a rubber track or dirt/grass. Avoid running on cement if at all possible—it is harder than even asphalt, and the harder the surface, the more punishment your body must absorb.
Of course, you should always consult with your doctor before starting or making drastic changes to your workout regimen.
Are you experiencing pain from having pushed your workout routine a bit too much? Our team can help. Contact us and we’ll be happy to talk to you.
With this weekend’s Bodies in Motion 5K coming up, now is the perfect time to read this post on how to properly warm up and stretch out as part of a running routine. In addition, the Fauquier and Liberty High School athletic training departments helped put together this video that demonstrates a few key stretches. Hope to see you out there Sunday morning!
As part of May’s National Arthritis Month, we will be looking at arthritis pain management here on the BROAVA blog.
If you have arthritis, you probably have read and heard a lot about pain management. Hopefully, you also know that a successful arthritis pain management plan means more than taking physical actions—it’s also about taking a positive mental approach. Following, courtesy of the Arthritis Foundation (AF), are some tips on how to use your mind as a key contributor to pain management.
1) Distract yourself. Focusing on pain only makes it more disruptive. Instead, try turning your attention to something unrelated to your pain. Explained the AF:
The more you focus on something outside your body, such as a hobby or other activity, the less you will be aware of physical discomfort. If you can’t avoid thinking about the pain, try to think of it differently. If that doesn’t work, view the pain as a message to change your routine. If sitting too long causes discomfort, stretch your legs for a bit.
2). Practice positive thinking Negative thoughts can solidify a mood. So, learn to think positive. Said the AF:
For example, you may come home from work and think, “I don’t want to exercise today. It’s cloudy outside, there’s no one to walk with, and besides, I’ve already exercised twice this week.” Or perhaps you approach the situation from a different perspective and think, “I don’t feel like exercising today, but I know I’ll feel better afterward and have an easier time falling asleep.”
3) Change unproductive habits. If you’re going through medicine faster than you used to or you find yourself talking more and more about your condition, consider altering these patterns. The AF explains how:
One way to make a change is to do something positive in place of the old habit. Reinforce your behavior change by rewarding yourself each time you do something positive – perhaps by spending some extra time in a soothing whirlpool or taking an additional 10 minutes to read the morning newspaper.
At Blue Ridge Orthopaedic and Spine Center, we recognize that there’s more to treating a patient than addressing the physical ailment. Our care team focuses on the entire patient experience—and the mental approach to treatment is a major part of this.
Want to learn more about our pain management center of excellence? Contact us and we’ll be happy to talk to you.
Anterior hip replacement is gaining popularity, especially among patients with more active lifestyles. This Augusta Chronicle piece tells the story of 74-year-old Merelyn Hendricks, who was not only back on the golf course just four weeks after an anterior hip replacement, but he was moving very well–he shot a 73!
We talk about the advantages of anterior hip replacement in this blog post, but the article offers a few more good points. One of them is the advantage of the patient being able to be on his back during an anterior hip replacement, Dr. Randal Meredith explains in the article:
Going in the front also means patients can lie on their backs during surgery, which makes it a little easier to do the procedure, Meredith said. As he worked to replace a hip recently in an operating room at University Hospital, he was able to mark his progress with X-rays, carefully checking to see whether the replacement parts were snug against the bone, eyeing the size to see if it matched up. Meredith checked the placement against the other hip to see that they were well aligned. In fact, the patient had previously had a hip replacement on the left side that might have left that side a little long, so Meredith’s goal in replacing the right hip was to even that out.
If you are considering hip replacement surgery, our joint replacement team would be glad to meet with you to discuss your options. Contact us today and set up an appointment to meet with someone from our team.
When non-surgical treatments like physical therapy and medication aren’t enough to make debilitating hip pain manageable, hip replacement surgery is often the recommended next step.
Hip replacements have been performed for decades to treat arthritis and other hip-related ailments. Here in the U.S., more than 285,000 total hip replacements are done each year. In recent years, a new type of hip replacement–the anterior hip replacement–has been gaining in popularity.
In hip replacement surgery, the surgeon makes an incision in the leg, opens the hip joint, and implants a ball and socket on an artificial stem. This takes the place of a worn-out joint.
No muscle or bone cut
In a traditional hip replacement procedure, the incision is made in the side or toward the back of the leg, and access to the joint is gained by either cutting muscle or bone around the joint. In an anterior hip replacement procedure, a smaller incision is made more toward the front of the hip, and joint access is gained by spreading the muscles apart. The same joint replacement procedure is done, yet no muscle or bone is cut.
By leaving the muscles intact, the anterior hip replacement approach does less damage during surgery, which shortens the patient’s recovery time. The entire joint also is more stable immediately after surgery, meaning the patient can get back to everyday activities
Anybody can be a candidate for an anterior hip replacement. Our joint replacement team has performed hundreds of successful hip replacements, including anterior hip replacements. If you’re experiencing chronic hip pain, our team would be happy to meet with you and talk about your options.
This article by Hart et al is published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, outlines the many guidelines of conducting a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE). These guidelines are implemented in order to provide a standard level of care among Physical Therapists and others who perform these FCEs. The guidelines talked about in this article are also in place at Industrial Rehabilitation Services!
Golf season came early to the Northern Virginia area this year, and along with it came a lot of unnecessary injuries. Do you want a sure-fire way to cut short your round? Tee it up and let it rip without a proper warm-up routine.
A warm-up doesn’t have to be complicated, but it should cover a few basic things.
First, do some stretching exercises that focus on your shoulder, torso, and hip. While golf uses lots of muscles, these areas are the ones that supply the majority of your swing’s power.
Next, take a few gentle swings. This will help warm up all of the muscles you use on the course. Remember, a smooth, rhythmic swing is not only best for your body, it also produces the most clubhead velocity.
For a more detailed look at preventing lower back pain while golfing, check out this article from Spine-Health.
Are you experiencing lower back pain? We’re here to help! Our award-winning Pain Management and Spine Center experts are just an appointment away. Contact us today and let us know how we can be of service.
A study demonstrated by Deborah E. Lechne published in the, Journal of the American Physical Therapy Association, provides evidence about the benefits of Work Hardening/Conditioning and their ability to return patients more rapidly to work. Industrial Rehabilitation Services designs and implements its own unique programs to fit any worker!
In an earlier post, we discussed the spinal cord stimulator patient trial. In this video, Dr. Daniel Heller shows how the device works and both explains and demonstrates the surgical implant procedure.
For more information, see this article on spinal cord stimulators for chronic pain.
Do you have chronic pain? Our pain management center excels at finding the best treatment to meet your needs.Contact us today and let’s discuss your situation.